mid-division, mistake 8th, headway and hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when went left 2 out
in touch, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace from next
mid-division until not fluent 9th, soon behind
in touch, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, kept on same pace from last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
chased leader, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders until lost place 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 10th, behind from 12th
always towards rear
mid-division, hit 5th, headway 10th, going well 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat
mid-division, hit 1st and 5th, blundered and unseated rider 11th
always towards rear
mid-division, losing place when hit 8th, never on terms after
chased leaders, joined leader 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ran on well
mid-division, steady headway from 4 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, no extra flat
held up last, steady progress after 4 out, ridden after next, stayed on strongly from 2 out, went 2nd close home
mid-division, hit 5th and 8th, weakened after 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 9th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division until weakened after 4 out
in touch on outer, losing place when not fluent 9th, behind and pulled up before 12th
mid-division, ridden after 11th, mistake 3 out, held when bumped 2 out
led until 9th, chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened last
Nonrunner
Owner JP McManus has a strong hand in this renewal of the Racing Post Plate with Reveillez and Moncadou, however we will take them both on with Paul Nicholls' Opera Mundi, although David Pipe may have a say in proceedings with his pair Vodka Bleu and Madison Du Berlais. Opera Mundi steps out of novice company for the first time today and whilst there is no doubt that he will find life a lot tougher now, he looks progressive and should be well suited by today's step up in trip (won at it over hurdles). Whilst he would appreciate the rain to come, he has run with credit on better ground before so looks the call in what looks a very open contest. Nicky Henderson has won this race for the past two years but is only represented by the mare Mariah Rollins. She has been well-beaten on her two starts this season so cannot be truly fancied, so of more interest may be Reveillez who won the Jewsons Novices' last year. His preparation has not been ideal leading up to this race, but he will appreciate the drying ground and looks a live danger. Moncadou won despite some awkward jumps last time out and this appears to be his ideal trip so this strong-travelling type has solid claims, along with Nycteos who should be fitter for his recent pipe-opener over hurdles a fortnight ago. Martin Pipe farmed this contest around the turn of the millennium and son David has two live chances today. Vodka Bleu has been disappointing since a pleasing return from injury when second behind the classy Exotic Dancer here in November. If back on song he can go well, as could recent winner Madison Du Berlais although a 6lb penalty for that win makes life trickier. Charlie Egerton's Graphic Approach has place claims but looks a tad high in the weights, so therefore we will return to Paul Nicholls' Opera Mundi to relish the step up in trip and land the spoils.
Armaturk (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Well Chief (11-0) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 12th, stayed on from 2 out, stayed on gamely flat to lead to final 50 yards, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft beating Nozic (11-12) by a nk, 11 ran.
Kill Devil Hill (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Mid-division, moderate 6th and no from before 4 out, beaten when pulled up at the last in race won by Tumbling Dice (11-4) at Cork 2m chs Grd 2 hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Reveillez 5-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 1st and 2nd, headway and mistake 11th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 40l behind Exotic Dancer (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Le Volfoni (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, never reached challenging position, 6th of 10, 9l behind Whispered Secret (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Roman Ark 13-2 (11-2) Always prominent, stayed on at same pace on long run after last, 4th of 10, 5l behind Whispered Secret (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Vodka Bleu (FR) 22-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 12th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 7, 14l behind Monet's Garden (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Feb.
Livingstonebramble (IRE) 5-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, 7th approaching 2 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on without threatening, 5th of 12, 10l behind Wheresben (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Bold Bishop (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) In touch, weakened 3 out, 9th of 11, 27l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Slim Pickings (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, progress on outer 5 out, 5th approaching 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, staying on when fell at the last in race won by Homer Wells (10-2) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan, 16 ran.
Graphic Approach (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Held up behind, steady headway from 15th, ridden into 4th after 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 14l behind Billyvoddan (10-12) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Tikram 11-2fav (11-5) Chased leaders, blundered 16th, soon ridden, not much room on bypassed 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 8l behind Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Opera Mundi (FR) 5-6fav (11-1) Prominent, chased leader 7th, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, rallied and every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Ursis (11-3) at Wincanton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Idole First (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leader until mistake 1st, not fluent 2nd, ridden 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 9, 32l behind Nozic (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Mariah Rollins (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 4th, ridden 13th, struggling approaching 3 out, finished tired, 5th of 7, well behind Too Forward (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) hvy in Jan.
Palarshan (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden and no impression when blundered 3 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Liberthine (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar '05, 22 ran.
Nycteos (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, short-lived effort after 3 out, never reached leaders and soon beaten, 6th of 12, 10l behind Gala Evening (10-11) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Moncadou (FR) 4-6fav (11-2) Held up, headway 10th, blundered 3 out, ridden to lead last, ridden out, won at Folkestone 2m 5f beg chs (4) hvy in Feb beating Professor Jack (11-2) by 3l, 5 ran.
Kelrev (FR) 14-1 (10-1) Blundered 3rd, behind, driven 11th, tailed off 4 out, last of 11, well behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
No Full (FR) 7-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, challenging from 3 out, chased winner 2 out until approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Big Rob (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Mistake 1st, led to 5th, chased leader until blundered and weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Gallant Approach (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Iron Man (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Held up in rear division, ridden and struggling 14th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Simon (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Hakim (NZ) 25-1 (10-13) Led, headed after 5th, ridden 7th, lost place from next, well behind approaching 12th, 5th of 8, 36l behind Nozic (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb.
Mr Boo (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Hit 1st, held up, lost touch from 10th, no chance when pulled up 3 out in race won by Milan Deux Mille (11-1) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
